ITN reporter kicked out of Bahrain

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Bahrain's human rights problem

Hasan's arrest was part of a government clampdown on protesters in Bahrain.

Rights groups have criticized Bahrain for its crackdown on anti-government protests that started in February 2011 spurred by popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

But the protests failed to gain the traction of other Arab Spring uprisings after Bahraini authorities moved against demonstrators in February and March last year -- backed by troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Protesters and Bahraini authorities have continued to clash, with the opposition accusing the government of being heavy-handed.

In November, Bahrain's Independent Commission of Inquiry issued a report highly critical of the crackdown.

The commission, set up by the king, concluded that police had used excessive force and torture last year. The report recommended reforms to the country's laws and better training of its security forces.